Aeroplane launching device



Nov. 17, 1931. M. NIEMI 1,832,499

AEROPLANE LAUNCHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1930 2 shees-sheet 1 [N VEN TOR BY Ma/I M em/ ATTORNEY Nov. 17, 1931. M. NIEMI AEROPLANE LAUNCHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AAMW mam mii %a4f%w ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1931 MATTI NIEMI, or SEATTLE; WASHINGTON,

AEROIPLANE LAUNCHING DEVICE Application filed December 8, 1930. Serial No. 500,734.

This invention relates to aeroplane launching devices and more particularly is an improvement over that class of launching devices wherein the plane issuspendedat an elevation abovethe ground surface to afford an opportunity to attain speed from an arc of descent. v

The invention has for an object the provision of advantageous means affording a greater degree of safety in forfending accidental detachment of the aeroplane either with respect to the elevating or releasing devices. j

A. further object ofv the invention is the provision of novel devices for connecting'and releasing the plane to and from the grapple devices with adjustment accommodations afford-ing a connection of the same substantially in the vertical plane of. the planes. gravi- 0 tational center.

A further object resides in the provision of adjustable resistance devices accommodating ahigh development in the propeller speed prior to the release of the plane such that an initial air buoyancy to thewings.

Further and. more particular objects and advantages, together with the foregoing, will appear throughout: the eourse'of the following detailed description and in the claims annexe-d thereto, the inventionconsisti-ng in the novel features of construction, the adaptation thereof, and inthe combination of such several parts, its-(hereinafter described and claimed. I 1 I In the drawings, wherein a preferred embodimentof the invention is shown,.'

Figure 1 represents, front elevation, a more or less diagrammatical view of my improved apparatus indicating an aeroplane therewith in the process of being elevated for launching the same.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same, the aeroplane in such case indicated in its elevated position prior to release of the grappling hook. V

it Fig, 3 is. a longitudinal vertical section of said. improved hook, taken to an enlarged scale on the line 33 of Fig. 4 and reprethe propeller may be utilized in developing tention to provide a superstructure compris ing transversely spaced girder member 6, 7',

such as channels,interconnected at their re- SPEECUVG'UPPGI' extremities through the medium of a cross bar 8. Guy lines 9 are at tached in. any suitable manner for rigidity.

In spaced apart dispositions of saidcrossbar length, pulleys 10, 11 are pivotally mounted for movement on atransverse horizontal axis, hoist cables 14, 15 passing through the same being connected to-a gr'a 1 pling hook, hereinafter described in detall, for passage about pulleys 12 to the drum of a manually or power operated hoist 13.. A release cable 16 is furthermore arranged for passage from said hook through a bar-sup ported pulley 18 to the winch 17.. Cables such as 20, 21, moreover, hereinafter designated asthe brake cables, are connected to said grappling hook and arranged for passage through fair leaders 19, to. and about a pulley 22 for frictional engagement between pivotally supported and journaled' pulley members 23, 24,. terminating in weighted members: 25 such as represented by dotted lines in Fig. I.

As is believed. evident, pulley 23, controlled by the engagement ofthe cam bull-nose 26 of a, lever 27 affords tension adjustment to selectively increase or decrease the eflective resistance. of the weights 25 in retarding the initial movement of the planev outwardly under propeller speed. Said levers, as shown, are controlled through connecting cables 28 working in opposition to the weight tension and a spring 29. A suitable pawl and ratchet arrangement to the winch drum 3O affords'retention to the selective stress desired.

Reverting more particularly to the adaptation of a plane to the foregoing launching devices, 31 represents a longitudinally disposed bar having its oppositional ends secured in a suitable manner to the plane fuselage, said bar being apertured, as at 33, in spaced dispositions of its length for the selective reception of a transverse pintle 32 adapted for insertion through the perforate terminals of a clevis 35 arranged to straddle said bar.

The elbow portion of said clevis is conformed for normal engagement between the jaws 36, 37 of lever clamping elements 38 having upper extremities constituted to conform. for seating engagement, to the diverging inner end-wall contour of chamfered frame members 40, 41, secured one to the other. Said clamping elements are suspended medially of their lengths by pivot pins 42 fulcrumed in the casing,communicatively directed sockets of the clamping jaws receiving a spring 44 adapted to spread the same in opposition to the thrust of a spring-pressed wedge 45. I indicate, mounted in the wedge faces, rollers 43 arranged for tracking engagement to the lever extremities in facilitating wedge release through the retraction of a bolt 47 integral with and interconnecting said wedge with the release cable 16.

Said frame members, moreover, are threaded in oppositional lateral sides for the reception of eye-bolts 50. 51, said eye-bolts adapted to engage the brake cables 20, 21. An ox-bow' 52 straddling the head portion of said frames engages about the eye-bolt shanks and affords respective rings 53, 54 connecting said oX-bow with the aforedescribed hoist cables 14, 15.

In the operation of the mechanism described, the plane is connected, depending upon the disposition of the freight or passenger cargo, by inserting bolt 32 through the clevis and a selected aperture of the planesecured bar 31. Power is expended from the drum 13 through cables 14. 15 to elevate the plane, weights 25 drawing the slack from the brake lines 20, 21. As the plane attains a desired height, pressure rollers 23 are suitably compressed to the brake cables, and hoist 13 locked.

A high speed of the propeller blades is developed to draw the plane outwardly in opposition to weights 25, subsequent to which line 16 is drawn taut to retract wedge in opposition to its compression spring. Spring 44 spreads the jaws 36. 37 in releasing the clevis 35, allowing the plane to rapidly attain speed from its initial power development in the propeller blades.

\Vhile I have herein illustrated a preferred manual control to the release cable in forfending accidental dislodgement, I do not wish to confine myself specifically thereto, as an automatic release such for example as a rigidly secured line of less length than the hoist cables connecting bolt 47 to the girders might in some instances be advantageously used. lVlnle having illustrated and described block mechanism suitable for use in the present launching mechanism, I do not contemplate in any way confining myself to the use of the same. The disclosure of such, moreover, is not to be taken as a disclaimer of my inventive rights therein, being the subject matter of a separate application for patent, now pending. Other structural embodiments are similarly capable of modification as the necessity or desire might warrant, and I do not limit myself except as by the scope of the hereto annexed claims.

hat I claim, is,-

1. The combination with means constituting a longitudinally disposed bar secured to a plane, said bar being apertured in spaced dispositions of its length for the selective securement of a clevis thereto, of a grappling device comprising oppositional jaws arranged to engage said clevis, means to elevate said grappling device, means secured to said grappling device to retard the progression outwardly of said plane from its elevated disposition, and means to release said plane from said outward disposition.

2. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said release means constitutes a wedge having spring compression for normally closing said jaws, a cable secured to said wedge and arranged to retract the same in opposition to said spring, and a spring interposed between said jaws for spreading the same responsive to said wedge retraction.

3. In aeroplane launching devices, means constituting grappling jaws arranged to engage the plane, means to elevate said grappling jaws and the plane, weight means for retarding the initial outward progression of the plane from its elevated disposition, and

means to selectively release said plane from the grappling hooks responsive to a speed development of the propeller blades of said plane.

4. In aeroplane launching devices, the combination with means secured to the plane, of means constituting grappling jaws for engaging said plane secured means, a superstructure including spaced apart upright girders, hoisting cables passed through pulleys carried by said superstructure and secured to said grappling jaws for elevating the plane, said plane being adapted to swing outwardly responsive to propeller speed from its elevated disposition about the axis of said pulleys, means to retard said outward movement, means to regulate the effective tension of said retarding means, and means to selectively release said grappling aws.

5. In aeroplane launching devices, the com bination with means secured to the plane, of means constituting grappling jaws for engaging said plane secured means, a superstructure including spaced apart upright girders, hoisting cables passed through pulleys'carried by said superstructure and secured to said grappling jaws for elevating the plane, said plane being adapted to swing outwardly responsive to propeller speed from its elevated disposition about the axis of said pulleys, means to retard said outward movement, and means to selectively release said grappling jaws.

6. In aeroplane launching devices, the combination with means secured to the fuselage of the plane, of means constituting grappling jaws adapted to engage said plane secured means in selective dispositions longitudinally of the plane, a superstructure including spaced apart uprights having a connecting cross-bar at their upper extremities, a pulley carried by said cross-bar, an elevating cable connecting said grappling jaws through said pulley with a power hoist, means to retard the initial outward progression of said plane from its elevated disposition, and means affording a spread of said grappling jaws to release the plane.

7. In apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein adjustable tension devices are afforded said retarding means.

8. In aeroplane launching devices, the com bination of means for elevating the aeroplane, said means allowing the aeroplane to swing outwardly under its own power, means to retard said outward swinging activity, and means to release the aeroplane from said elevating means.

9. In aeroplane launching devices, means to suspend the aeroplane in an elevated disposition, means responsive to a development of the aeroplane motive power for swinging the plane outwardly about the axis of said suspension means, means to retard said outward swing, means to regulate the tension of said retarding means, and means to release the aeroplane from said suspension means.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 28th day of October, 1930.

MATTI NIEMI. 

